Expendable oceanographic sensor apparatus

• US 5,209,112 A
• Filed: 02/28/1991
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute, United States Department of Energy
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: McCoy, Kim O., Riches, Michael R., Downing, John P. Jr., DeRoos, Bradley G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, ELIZABETH L
• Application Number:
  US07/662,064
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 73/170 A
• US Class Current: 73/170.01
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/003 adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/20 Ballast means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2211/02 Oceanography
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 13/00 Surveying specially adapted to open water, e.g. sea, lake, river or canal liquid level metering G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/006 Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys

Abstract

An expendable oceanographic sensor apparatus is deployed from an airplane or a ship to make oceanographic observations in a profile of the surface-to-ocean floor, while deployed on the floor, and then a second profile when returning to the ocean surface. The device then records surface conditions until on-board batteries fail. All data collected is stored and then transmitted from the surface to either a satellite or other receiving station. The apparatus is provided with an anchor that causes descent to the ocean floor and then permits ascent when the anchor is released. Anchor release is predetermined by the occurrence of a pre-programmed event.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remote monitoring of water characteristics in a body of water, comprising:

(a) a shipping/deployment member having a longitudinal axis, said shipping/deployment member divided into halves along the longitudinal axis with the halves interconnected in clamshell arrangement;

(b) a sensor package within the shipping/deployment member having sensors for measuring predetermined water characteristics, said sensors being operable to measure water characteristics

(i) during descent of the sensor package to the floor of the body of water,

(ii) while anchored to the floor of the body of water,

(iii) during ascent of the sensor package to the surface of the body of water, and

(iv) while floating on the surface of the body of water;

(c) a detachable anchor within the sensor package so as to provide negative buoyancy to the sensor package while therein; and

(d) a transmitter for transmitting sensor data to a satellite.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor package comprises sensors to measure water temperature, water conductivity and water depth.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the shipping/deployment member comprises a cylindrical structure having positive buoyancy when the detachable anchor is attached.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the shipping/deployment member is provided with a parachute for deployment from an aircraft into the body of water.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the anchor is provided with release means comprising an anchor line subject to accelerated corrosion when an electric potential is applied thereto, and means to generate an electric potential across the anchor line.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the apparatus comprises control means to control the accumulation of data from the sensors and the actuation of said release means.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the control means is programmed to actuate the release means upon the occurrence of an event selected from the group consisting of (a) lapse of a predetermined time period, (b) change in a predetermined hydrographic condition, (c) time passage to a predetermined date, or (d) transient fluctuation in pressure or tilt of the shipping/deployment member.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the control means actuates the sensors for the accumulation of data when the sensor package is on the ocean floor, the ocean surface, and for the accumulation of profiles of water characteristics when the sensor package is descending to and ascending from the ocean floor.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the shipping/deployment member is lined with shock absorbent material to cushion the sensor package against impact of the shipping/deployment member when it enters the body of water.

10. Apparatus for remote monitoring of water characteristics in a body of water, comprising:

(a) a shipping/deployment member;

(b) a microprocessor controlled sensor package having sensors to measure predetermined water characteristics during

(i) descent of the sensor package to the floor of the body of water;

(ii) a predetermined period of time while the sensor package is on the floor of the body of water;

(iii) ascent of the sensor package to the surface of the body of water; and

(iv) while floating on the surface of the body of water;

(c) a detachable anchor providing negative buoyancy to the sensor package;

(d) a transmitter for transmitting data from the sensor package to a receiving station.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the sensor package further comprises data storage means to store the data collected by the sensor package, such that said data can be transmitted by the transmitter to a satellite while the shipping/deployment member is floating the surface of the body of water.

12. A method of measuring a plurality of water profile characteristics in a body of water, comprising the steps of:

(a) deploying a sensor package having a plurality of sensors therein into a body of water, said sensor package having negative buoyancy when deployed;

(b) sensing a plurality of water characteristics as said sensor package descends to the floor of the body of water;

(c) deploying an anchor to maintain the sensor package on the floor of the body of water;

(d) sensing a plurality of water characteristics while the sensor package is deployed on the floor of the body of water;

(e) releasing the anchor with release means subject to accelerated corrosion when an electric potential is applied thereto;

(f) sensing a plurality of water characteristics as the sensor package ascends to the surface of the body of water;

(g) sensing a plurality of water characteristics as the sensor package floats on the surface of the body of water, and

(h) transmitting the results of steps (b), (d), (f) and (g) to a receiving unit.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising deploying the sensor package in a shock-absorbing shipping/deployment member from an aircraft with a parachute.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising measuring water temperatures, water conductivity and water depth with the plurality of sensors.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising generating an electric potential across the release means with batteries contained within the sensor package.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising releasing the anchor upon the occurrence of an event selected from the group consisting of (a) lapse of a predetermined time period, (b) change in a predetermined hydrographic condition, (c) time passage to a predetermined date, or (d) transient fluctuation in pressure or tilt of the shipping/deployment member.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising storing the data sensed from the plurality of water characteristics in memory means until transmittal to the receiving unit.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising providing a plurality of different sets of sensors for use while descending, while ascending, while on the floor of the body of water, or while floating on the surface of the body of water.

19. Apparatus for remote monitoring of water characteristics in a body of water, comprising:

(a) a sensor package having first and second fairings at respective ends thereof each having a plurality of sensors therin to measure predetermined water characteristics during

(i) descent of the sensor package to the floor of the body of water;

(ii) a predetermined period of time while the sensor package is on the floor of the body of water;

(iii) ascent of the sensor package to the surface of the body of water; and

(b) means for regulating buoyancy of the sensor package; and

(c) a transmitter for transmitting data from the sensor package.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the first fairing is filled with an inert fluid protecting the sensors therein contact with the body of water.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the said first fairing is provided with means to permit introduction of water from the body of water into the interior of the first fairing.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the means to permit introduction of water comprises an electrically conductive wire through the first fairing which dissolves upon application of current thereto.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the first fairing is ejected from the sensor package when water is introduced therein.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the apparatus further comprises a coiled antenna which assists the ejection of the first fairing from the sensor package.